London's Transport Agency Blocks Uber's Ads From Its Website

Uber had launched an "UberTAXI" service in a bid to make peace with London cab drivers, but takeup has not been significant.Facebook/Uber Transport for London (TfL), the local government body responsible for the majority of London's transport system, has dropped ads for Uber from its website after complaints were raised from local taxi and minicab drivers who have long protested Uber's right to operate in capital city, MayorWatch reports.

Running banner ads promoting Uber on the "taxis and minicabs" page of the TfL website was seemingly another example of this "soft touch" approach and Mayor Watch reports that a number of taxi and mini cab drivers raised concerns about the ad placements (and those of other firms operating in the capital.) Those complaints were then escalated to London Mayor Boris Johnson by three London Assembly members during last month's Mayor's Question Time.

In a written response published Monday on the London.gov.uk website the Mayor said TfL will no longer carry any advertising on this particular section of the website following a review of its policies.

The full response reads: "Given TfL's licensing and regulatory roles, it has reviewed its policy and is no longer carrying any advertising on the Taxi and Private Hire section of the TfL website."

The removal of the ads will unlikely have a catastrophic effect on Uber's growing popularity in London, but it marks the latest in a series of negative PR stories for the company in the region. Last week a gay couple claimed they were thrown out of an Uber cab in London after they "kissed" and "cuddled" in the back of the car.